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<\/p>\nVANCOUVER \u2013 Things got way more exciting for the B.C. Lions on Saturday than Nathan Rourke wanted them to be.<\/p>\n
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The Lions looked to have the game well under control but then had to fend off a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Calgary Stampeders 38-24 to clinch a CFL playoff berth.<\/p>\n
The Lions took a 31-9 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Stampeders used two interceptions to cut the margin to seven points.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never want to give them the ball, no matter the position,\u201d said Rourke, who finished the night completing 25 of 32 passes for 414 yards and four touchdowns, two of them to Keon Hatcher. \u201cIt made it a little bit too exciting there at the end.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of relief right now that we pulled that one out.\u201d<\/p>\n
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B.C. cornerback Robert Carter Jr. had two picks that snuffed out late Stampeder drives and the Lions sealed the victory when running back Zander Horvath scored on a 33-yard run with less than a minute remaining.<\/p>\n
The 9-7 Lions moved into sole possession of second place in the West Division and still have a chance to host a home playoff game.<\/p>\n
Rourke said the win \u2014 the fourth in a row for B.C. and sixth in the last eight games \u2014 keeps the Lions in the hunt.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis entire year we\u2019ve been trying to spend one more week together,\u201d said Rourke, who threw for more than 400 yards for the second time this year and was over 300 yards for the 10th time. \u201cWe\u2019re a step along the way.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of work to do. We\u2019re in a good position. You just want to play another week and give ourselves a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Hatcher, the CFL\u2019s receiving leader, had seven catches for 112 yards. He caught a 32-yard touchdown pass in the dying seconds of the first half, then opened the third quarter with a 10-yard grab for a major. He has 90 catches for 1,515 yards and seven touchdowns this season.<\/p>\n
Slotbacks Justin McInnis and Jevon Cottoy also caught touchdowns.<\/p>\n
Sean Whyte added a 47-yard field goal.<\/p>\n
Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., in his first game back at B.C. Place Stadium since being traded to the Stampeders from the Lions last November, completed 21 of 38 passes for 303 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also ran in a two-point convert.<\/p>\n
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The Stampeders dropped to 8-7 after suffering their fourth straight loss but remain in playoff contention.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a little too late,\u201d said Adams. \u201cIf we can get it started a little bit earlier. A lot of it is on me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I can do is get back to work, put my head down and lead by example.\u201d<\/p>\n
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